THE 2006 HC&G IDEA HOUSE

June 15, 2006

DESIGNERS ROBERT BAKES AND CRAIG GORMAN DESIGN A KITCHEN THAT COOKS

Everyone knows the real heart of a house is the kitchen. Even developers have caught on. They've realized that marketing a house with a great kitchen—one that a buyer will actually want to keep—can sell a house in a jiffy. In the Hamptons Cottages & Gardens 2006 Idea House at Calf Creek Court in Water Mill, Bakes & Gorman, a new kitchen design and construction company, is in charge of this crucial space. Robert Bakes is a designer with more than 15 years of experience in bespoke kitchens, both here and in England. He learned his trade in England after graduating with a degree in building construction from the University of Nottingham. Prior to setting up shop with Craig Gorman, who runs the factory in Bohemia, Bakes was at Christopher Peacock kitchens for more than three years. They started their own company just six months ago, and the Idea House will be their first opportunity to show off their work to the public.

"We developed a new range of cabinetry that will debut with this house," Bakes says. "The styling takes its cues from the house's Arts and Crafts detailing. There is a combination of stained and painted poplar for the woodwork and a variety of door styles employed throughout the kitchen, which we find creates a very pleasing aesthetic experience."